Match play golf is as old as the hills, but it is not the game played day-to-day by the tournament professionals and doesn't often get to strut around in full make-up with the TV cameras whirring.

When it does, it can by a byword for drama and excitement in events like the WGC Match Play and the World Match Play Championship, and even more so in international team contests like the Ryder Cup and the Presidents Cup.

Unlike strokeplay, in which everyone tries to complete a round in as few shots as possible and the lowest number wins, the scoring unit in match play golf is the hole - and the opposition is standing right there on the same tee.

Each hole constitutes a mini-match. If one player or team scores lower on four of the holes to the opposition's three (ties are halved), then it's a victory by one hole.

This type of scoring makes for crucial differences. One nightmare hole can destroy a whole round in strokeplay, but in match play it only means the loss of that hole and it's on with the show.

Games often finish early because one player or team is ahead by more than the number of holes left to play. For instance, three holes up with two to play means victory by a score described as '3&2'.

Match play allows for a little more strategy, with players opting to be aggressive or conservative depending on the state of play. There's no point trying to rip it off the tee if an opponent has just knocked a ball into the lake.

In the end, there's no hiding place in match play golf and it's especially effective when the head-to-head frisson is tied to a team format, as in the Ryder Cup.